Shoe Imaging Stand

ABSTRACT

A shoe imaging stand and processes for using the same are disclosed, according to various embodiments. In one illustrative embodiment, a shoe imaging stand includes a base, one or more side panels, and a center panel, any of which may include measurement markings along edges thereof. The side panels may be adjustably positionable, enabling one or more shoes to be disposed in close proximity to one or more edges with measurement markings, for purposes of imaging the shoes and their tread.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/861,026, filed Nov. 27, 2006,the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the general art of law enforcementequipment, and in particular to imaging equipment used in lawenforcement.

BACKGROUND

Many law enforcement processes require and depend on accuratelyidentifying shoe treads. Often, shoe tread marks left at the scene of acrime can be used to connect a suspect with the crime. However, it hasbeen the experience of the inventor that it is often very difficult toobtain accurate records of shoe treads.

The discussion above is merely provided for general backgroundinformation and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining thescope of the claimed subject matter.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a shoe imaging standapparatus and a process for using a shoe imaging stand. In accordancewith an illustrative embodiment, the shoe imaging stand includes a base,a center panel, and a side panel. The center panel is connected to thebase, and the side panel is disposed on the base and configured to havean adjustable position relative to the base. At least one of the base,the center panel, or the side panel comprises measurement markingsproximate to an edge thereof.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementationsthat solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a shoe imaging stand, according toan illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart for a process of using a shoe imaging stand,according to an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a shoe imaging stand 10, according to an illustrativeembodiment. Shoe imaging stand 10 enables obtaining accurate images ofshoes and shoe treads, such as for law enforcement purposes. Accordingto one illustrative embodiment, shoe imaging stand 10 is configured tosecurely support one or more shoes for imaging a shoe and its tread,such as for the shoe or shoes of an inmate, a suspect, or a person ofinterest in a law enforcement or other investigative context. The imagedshoe and tread may be added to a database, which may contain the imagesof many such shoes, and may facilitate a variety of investigativefunctions.

In accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1, shoe imaging stand 10includes a base 12 have a base edge 14 with measurement markings 16thereon. A plurality of sliding legs 20, 22 are mounted on the base 12,and a plurality of side panels 30, 32 are attached to sliding legs 20,22 by L-shaped brackets 34. (The L-shaped bracket 34 is depicted in FIG.1 for side panel 32, while the corresponding L-shaped bracket for sidepanel 30 is obscured from view in the depiction of FIG. 1.) The slidinglegs 20, 22 are slidingly engaged with the base 12, thereby configuringthe side panels 30, 32 to have laterally adjustable positions relativeto the base 12.

Each of the side panels 30, 32 has a panel edge 36 that is located inplane with and adjacent to base edge 14. Each of the panel edges 36 hasmeasurement markings 38 thereon, in the present illustrative embodiment.A center panel 42 is also mounted on base 12 between the side panels 30.Shoe imaging stand 10 is also thereby enabled to receive a shoe betweencenter panel 42 and each of side panels 30, 32. Center panel 42 may bestationary in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In other embodiments, centerpanel 42 may also have an adjustable position, and may also featuremeasurement markings along its edge.

Shoe imaging stand 10 may be used according to a process 200 which isdepicted in flowchart form in FIG. 2. According to the illustrativeprocess 200, in a first step 201, a shoe is set upright at the edge ofthe stand 10, between center panel 42 and first side panel 30. Sidepanel 30 is adjusted to be proximate to the shoe, as in step 203, andmay securely maintain the shoe in position for imaging, for a widevariety of shapes and sizes of shoes. These steps may also be done fortwo shoes at the same time, one each on either side of center panel 42,supported respectively with side panels 30, 32. The measurement markings16, 38 may, for example, indicate inches, feet, centimeters,millimeters, and/or other units of measuring length.

With the shoes disposed in the shoe imaging stand, the stand 10 with theshoes may be photographed or otherwise imaged or observed, as in step205. In an image made in this arrangement, the measurement markings 16,38 on base 12 and side panels 30, 32, and/or measurement markings oncenter panel 42 in another embodiment, appear in close proximity to theshoe and its tread, facilitating an accurate recording of the physicalfeatures of the shoe and its tread. With these images or representationsof the images stored in a database, they may more easily becommunicated, widely shared, accessed as needed, and analyzed forinvestigative and other law enforcement purposes.

Shoe imaging stand 10 is therefore configured to receive a shoe betweencenter panel 42 and the first side panel 30, and another shoe betweencenter panel 42 and the second side panel 32, with the soles of theshoes in plane with edges 14, 36, and the tread of the shoes adjacent tothe measurement markings 16, 38 on edges 14, 36. Other embodiments mayhave only a single side panel and be configured to receive a single shoefor imaging, for example, or may have more panels than are depicted inFIG. 1 and may be configured for imaging more than two shoes at a time.Other embodiments may also include a support structure configured formounting an imaging device thereon, such as a digital camera, such thatthe camera is thereby positioned to image the shoe imaging stand, alongwith any shoes positioned in it at the time.

Shoe imaging stand 10, and other embodiments with variations on theparticular features disclosed in FIG. 1, thereby facilitate imagingshoes and their tread with a proximate basis for comparison andmeasurement, providing for highly accurate and informative records ofthe shoes. Such records may, for example, be compared with evidence fromcrime scenes and other physical scenarios in law enforcement and otherinvestigative contexts.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference toparticular illustrative embodiments, workers skilled in the art willrecognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departingfrom the disclosure or the claims herein. Many variations amongdifferent embodiments may also be made within the metes and bounds ofthe subject matter described by the present disclosure and defined bythe claims recited below.

1. An shoe imaging stand, comprising: a base; a center panel, connectedto the base; a first side panel, disposed on the base and configured tohave an adjustable position relative to the base; wherein at least oneof the base, the center panel, or the side panel comprises measurementmarkings proximate to an edge thereof.
 2. The shoe imaging stand ofclaim 1, further comprising a second side panel, disposed on the base ina region opposite the center panel from the first side panel, andconfigured to have an adjustable position relative to the base, whereinat least one of the base, the center panel, the first side panel, or thesecond side panel comprises measurement markings depicted proximate toan edge thereof.
 3. The shoe imaging stand of claim 2, wherein the base,the center panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel eachcomprise measurement markings disposed proximate to an edge thereof. 4.The shoe imaging stand of claim 1, further comprising a first legdisposed slidingly relative to the base, wherein the first side panel isattached to the first leg.
 5. The shoe imaging stand of claim 1, furthercomprising a means for facilitating imaging the base, the first sidepanel, and the center panel, wherein the means for facilitating theimaging is disposed at a position in which the measurement markings arevisible.
 6. The shoe imaging stand of claim 5, wherein the means forfacilitating the imaging comprises a support structure configured forreceiving an imaging device thereon.
 7. The shoe imaging stand of claim5 wherein the means for facilitating the imaging comprises an imagingdevice.
 8. The shoe imaging stand of claim 7, wherein the imaging devicecomprises a digital camera.
 9. An shoe imaging stand, comprising: abase; a center panel, connected to the base; a first side panel,disposed on a first sliding leg slidingly engaged with the base, thefirst side panel thereby configured to have a laterally adjustableposition relative to the base; a second side panel, disposed on a secondsliding leg slidingly engaged with the base on an opposite side of thecenter panel from the first side panel, the second side panel therebyconfigured to have a laterally adjustable position relative to the base;wherein the base, the first side panel, and the second side panelcomprise edges having measurement markings thereon.
 10. The shoe imagingstand of claim 9, further comprising a support structure configured formounting a camera thereon, such that the camera is thereby positioned toimage the shoe imaging stand.
 11. A method comprising: positioning ashoe on a shoe imaging stand; adjusting a position of a side panel ofthe shoe imaging stand to be proximate to the shoe; and imaging the shoeimaging stand with the shoe positioned therein.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein positioning the shoe on the shoe imaging stand comprisespositioning the shoe on a base of the shoe imaging stand between theside panel and a center panel of the shoe imaging stand.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein at least one of the base, the center panel, or theside panel comprises measurement markings proximate to an edge thereof.14. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the image of theshoe imaging stand with the shoe positioned therein in a database. 15.The method of claim 11, further comprising storing a representation ofthe image of the shoe imaging stand with the shoe positioned therein ina database.